Volunteers (individuals and groups of all ages) are always welcome and much appreciated! To learn more about helping the Ronald McDonald House, contact our Volunteer & Guest Services Manager at 859-368-8437. To learn more about helping our Ronald McDonald Family Room, contact our RMFR Coordinator @ 859-268-0757.

Financial Summary

Statements

Mission Statement

The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Bluegrass is to create and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and to strengthen families by keeping them together in times or medical need. The mission is accomplished through three (3) core programs: Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room®, and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®.

Background Statement

In the early 1980’s a small group of parents, physicians and their spouses, and regional McDonald’s helped the Ronald McDonald House® open debt-free with 17 rooms on December 14, 1984. Three additional rooms were added to the facility in 1994 to accommodate more families each year.

In 1997, the mission was expanded and the name was changed to the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Bluegrass.

In May of 2005, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® began operations at the University of Kentucky Center for Rural Health located in Hazard, KY which is bringing pediatric dental care services and education to thousands of families each year in Perry and surrounding counties.

In January of 2009, the Ronald McDonald Family Room® program opened inside Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington. The Ronald McDonald Family Room provides an area of comfort and hospitality for critical care pediatric (NICU/PICU) patient families who need to “get away” for a moment of quiet and a quick snack. It was estimated that the Family Room would have over 11,000 visitors in its first year of operation. Census data collected during the first 12 months of operation indicated actual use to be closer to 20,000 visitors. Visitors to both the Family Room and the Ronald McDonald House are primarily from Kentucky but many come from other states and even other countries.

Impact Statement

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Bluegrassundergoes a yearly Organizational Assessment conducted by its Global organization RMHC. The last assessment, conducted in 2013, showed that RMHC performed very well on all 10 standards and gave the board and staff great goals to work toward to improve operations and better meet the needs of families and children.

Additionally, all guests of the Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room are asked to participate in a satisfaction survey. Questions not only pertain to the cleanliness and comfort of rooms and facilities, but also the accessibility of volunteers and staff, quality of meals and other questions relevant to the guest’s experience and needs. Data from these surveys is compiled and analyzed each year and informs strategic decision making by the organization. 100% of all guests of the Ronald McDonald House who completed a survey in 2013 said they would "strongly recommend the Ronald McDonald House" to another family in need.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program uses the Surgeon General’s Healthy People 2010 standards to determine its effectiveness. Healthy People 2010 is a comprehensive set of disease prevention and health promotion objectives for the Nation to achieve over the first decade of the new century. Specific to dental health, the following goals were set: 1) Reduce the proportion of young children with untreated dental decay in their primary and permanent teeth. Goal is 21 percent of elementary school children and thanks to the effors of the Care Mobile, Perry County Elementary is at 59% 2) Increase the proportion of children who have received dental sealants on their molar teeth. Target is 50 percent of all children. Perry County Elementary is currently at 54%

Needs Statement

The critical programs provided by Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Bluegrass are funded entirely by fundraising efforts. The organization does not receive city, state or federal funding nor is it a United Way agency.

Ronald McDonald House® The average cost to RMHC of the Bluegrass to provide one night's guest stay in the Ronald McDonald House program is $76 per night. Guests are asked to donate $10 per night for lodging if they can. In 2013, the average amount paid per night received was $2.25. Funds are needed to help "bridge the gap" between what families are able to contribute and the actual cost of providing our services.

The Ronald McDonald House recently completed an extensive renovation to all 20 guest rooms as well as added an additional room to serve more families each year. There are still 7 "name a room" opportunities available for $20,000 each.

Ronald McDonald Family Room® Approximately $25,000 a year is needed to cover a portion of the cost for a part time volunteer coordinator to recruit, train, evaluate and retain these important volunteers. Because of the tremendous growth in use of the Room, future concerns for the program include securing funding to extend hours of operation and hire paid staff to work extended hours.

CEO/Executive Director Statement

It is my distinct privilege to be a member of the team at the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Bluegrass. It is our goal to keep families strong by keeping them together in times of medical crisis. Whether it's a good night's rest, a home cooked meal, or a shoulder to cry on, RMHC exists to bring families with ill children comfort and hope. To be honest, I don't know if I've ever worked for an organization that is more reliant on individual and community donations than RMHC, so it has been a unique challenge to meet the growing needs of our community despite a challenging economy. Every donation we receive is valued through our strict adherence to stringent internal controls, the highest ethical standards and trasparent business practices. I am proud to encourage donors and friends to visit our website to learn more about the great work being done by RMHC of the Bluegrass: www.rmhclexington.com.

Board Chair Statement

RMHC of the Bluegrass has engaged a talented new pool of Board of Directors over the past couple of years as the organization has grown to now serve tens of thousands of families each year. Led by the Board Governance Committee, the Executive Director and the Executive Board members, RMHC has built a strong and transparent structure.

Recent successes include: The opening of the Ronald McDonald Family Room in 2009; extensive renovation to the Ronald McDonald House in 2014, and 100 percent board member financial participation for the past 10 years.

The most important achievement though has been evidenced by the well-being of the families who are supported through our programming. Family surveys have consistently shown a very high satisfactory score of the Ronald McDonald House Charities and its services – providing a safe and comforting “home away from home.”

Most gratifying is meeting the families and knowing in a small way that you are helping them at a time of crisis and critical need for their family. One young man who recently stayed with his mother at the Ronald McDonald House suffered major injuries in a car crash. The doctors were fearful he potentially could go into a major depression. His mother has shared that the Ronald McDonald House has helped keep his spirits up through the special attention he receives and has aided in his recovery. Thanks to generous donors and volunteers, the young man has been able to attend University of Kentucky football and basketball games and take part in other family friendly community events. He made friends with the staff and volunteers of the House and loved to show the progress he made walking (having been able to abandon his wheelchair). He also started attending a local elementary school and took part in rehabilitation in the afternoons before ending his day at the House.

Because of stories like this, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve as President of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass..

There are challenges. Fundraising in a tough economy has been a focus for the board. In 2014, the board of RMHC will develop a new 5 year Long-Range Strategic Plan that will include priorities to meet the growing needs of our community for the services we provide. Additionally, Board Development and Staff remain critical success factors for ensuring that the charity fulfill our mission. When bringing on new board members, we must be sure that they not only are adept at governance, but also are willing participants to "make the ask."

Moving forward, the Board wants to continue to improve its services to the community while strengthening partnerships with the healthcare providers the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass serves.

At the end of the day, the tough decisions and problems the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass works to resolve is worth it when you see a family comforted and they have one less thing to worry about in a trying time.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass provides programs to meet the needs of any family (regardless of geography, socio-economic status, etc.) who may need care and comfort during their child's medical crisis, no matter where they call "home" or whether or not they have an ability to pay. In the past 30 years of operation, RMHC of the Bluegrass has hosted families from every county in Kentucky, 37 US states, and 10 foreign countries.

RMHC of the Bluegrass exists to keep families together during times of medical need. Anyone with a child age 21 or younger who needs to travel to Lexington to seek medical care for that child is eligible for referral to the Ronald McDonald House Program. All family members and loved ones of children being cared for within the NICU / PICU areas of Kentucky Children's Hospital are eligible to utilize our Ronald McDonald Family Room. All children in the KY counties of Knox, Perry, Floyd and Letcher are eligible to receive dental services on board our Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.

Our Long Range Performance Plan (3-5 years) outcomes include:

Program Performance - increasing access to health care for families and children in need. Community Engagement - improving key stakeholder knowledge and participation in RMHC. Financial Stability - securing new and extend existing relationships with donors. Management effectiveness - ensuring efficient and effective use of resources to advance the Mission.

* Improving recruiting and orientation processes to ensure all board members have the inclination, ability and interest to secure the resources needed to advance the mission and strengthen the programs (relationships.)

* Funding marketing and communications plans to include growth of online / social media presence as well as paid media placement (reputation)

RMHC of the Bluegrass has a diverse pool of resources available to ensure the successful completion of our Performance Plan including:

* RMHC Global-Provides the highest quality professional development training and educational resources in a range of NPO "hot topics" as well as resources to ensure that Chapters operate ethically, efficiently and transparently now and into the future.

* RMHC of the Bluegrass Board of Directors - Each member is carefully selected from the charity's active group of sub-committees and is provided extensive orientation and training opportunities in areas including Fiscal Oversight, Governance, Fund Development, and NPO best practices.

* McDonald's of Southeastern and Central KY - Owner-operators of regional McDonald's restaurants are personally and professionally dedicated to ensuring the success of the Charity that bears its name.

* HealthCare Partners - All Lexington area hospitals that offer pediatric medical services remain committed and involved in ensuring the success of RMHC as they understand that our programs directly improve the lives and well-being of their patients.

* RMHC Staff - Professionals in their respective fields, each member of the RMHC of the Bluegrass team is hired based on their education, training and experience and how those qualities will align with the successful delivery of our programs and responsible administration of our Charity.

* History and Brand Recognition - RMHC of the Bluegrass has operated successfully in the Lexington community for over 30 years. The charity successfully identifies new volunteers and donors each year while retaining an impressive number of key stakeholders who have been involved in supporting the charity for 10, 20 and even 30 years. The charity has earned a reputation as being professional, responsible, and ethical with a record for successful delivery of quality programs.

* Creation of a "scholarship" program designed to assist RMHC to cover expenses of RMH lodging for those families unable to contribute financially toward their stay ("helping hands / bridge the gap" funding.)

One area of change that RMHC has experienced over the past 30 + years of operation is the changing "profile" of our volunteers. When the Ronald McDonald House opened in 1984, there were fewer double-income households and therefore more opportunity to recruit and retain volunteers who had spouses working outside the home contributing the primary household income. Over time, the pool of potential volunteers who could contribute between 10 - 40 hours per week for unpaid service has greatly diminished.

An additional area for growth is to identify and cultivate meaningful relationships with potential major donors including donors who have been helping the charity for many years, but their gift may not have been encouraged to increase. This includes support from hospitals and medical service providers who routinely refer their patient families to stay at the Ronald McDonald House.

CEO/Executive Director

Executive DirectorMs. Sarah Warner Lister

Term StartJuly 2005

Emails.lister@rmhclexington.com

Experience

A professional administrator with over nineteen years experience in non profit administration, board governance, fund development, public relations and marketing specializing in media relations, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, grant writing, and special events.

Chief Executive responsible for establishing strategic frameworks to achieve the mission of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing lodging for families who travel to Lexington seeking medical care for their children and supporting health related programs and projects for Kentucky’s children. Directs and coordinates all Fund Development, Community Awareness, Fiscal Services, and Board Governance campaigns with the Board of Directors while supervising team of 15 FT & PT staff members.

Oak Tree Montessori – Cincinnati, OH 2003 – Summer 2005

· Director of Development

A member of the Executive Management team supporting the goals of all departments by identifying and soliciting contributed income opportunities. Collaborate with the President and Board of Trustees to develop and execute effective strategies for generating financial support through grants, corporate & foundation support, annual fund (individual giving), trustee giving, as well as special events, promotions and volunteer management. Supervise all campaign timelines, budgets, collateral items, donor acknowledgements, sponsor benefits and donor databases.

Ensemble Theater of Cincinnati - Cincinnati, OH 1997 - 2003

· Director of Development

Development Director responsible for raising 70% of Ensemble Theatre’s one million dollar annual operating budget through contributed income sources (over 3 million dollars in five years.) Worked closely with Artistic Director and Board of Trustees to establish campaign structures and financial goals. Responsible for solicitation and management of all grant and foundation income (national and local, governmental and private), corporate sponsorships, annual fund campaigns, special events, and Board of Trustee gifts. Designed and executed three signature annual fundraising events: Tony Awards® Dinner, Ladies Luncheon, and Holiday Family Brunch. Supervised Development Associate staff person.

DescriptionRMH provides a "home away from home" for families of children age 21 or younger who travel to Lexington for medical care for their child(ren.) In 2013, the House had a 78% occupancy rate, indicating the continuing need for this service. The House provides home-cooked meals; laundry facilities; private bed/bathrooms; play areas; and transportation to and from local hospitals three times per day. The four-member Chapter Management Staff along with a House Operations Manager and several House Managers ensure the RMH meets the needs of families 24/7. Volunteers do much of the work and at least 1/4 of the current Board has been involved with the House since it opened.

The program costs around $76 per night per room to operate. Guests are encouraged, but not required, to make a donation of $10 per night to help cover those costs. However, no family is ever turned away due to an inability to pay. The remaining amount is met entirely through financial contributions from individuals, groups and corporations.

Budget600,000

CategoryHuman Services, General/Other Family-Based Services

Population ServedFamilies, Children and Youth (0 - 19 years), People/Families with of People with Physical Disabilities

The RMFR opened in January of 2009 inside the walls of Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington, KY providing a comforting and quiet area of respite, relaxation and reflection for families and loved ones of children who are being treated in the critical care units (NICU, PICU) of the hospital.

Families of newborns and children facing life and death circumstances are often hesitant to leave the hospital even for a moment and the Family Room provides a few moments of escape throughout the day away from the stress of their situation.

The Room is staffed with helpful, specially trained and screened volunteers. Guests of the Family Room will find several comfortable seating areas, complimentary snacks, McDonald’s® coffee, books and magazines as well as the use of portable electronic devices (DVD and CD players) with a library of family-friendly media.

Budget50,000

CategoryHealth Care, General/Other Emergency Services, Hospital-Based

Population ServedChildren and Youth (0 - 19 years), Adults, People/Families with of People with Physical Disabilities

Program Short Term Success

In 2010, over 20,000 guests utilized the Family Room. It is anticipated that the 2011 census will be similar. Feedback from guest and volunteers who work in the Room help identify opportunities to grow and strengthen the program. The need for an area of respite for families of critically ill children will not go away, so the RMFR must continue to do it's best to meet the expanded needs.

Program Long term Success

Future plans for the Ronald McDonald Family Room program included expanded facilities to include overnight accomodations, meals, laundry and lockers. If other regional healthcare providers identify a need for a Ronald McDonald Family Room program in their facility, RMHC of the Bluegrass would be interested in helping serve families in those facilities as well with the creation of a Family Room program.

DescriptionSince 2005, the RMCM (a partnership between the University of Kentucky and RMHC of the Bluegrass) has offered Eastern Kentucky's children free professional dental services and education aboard a state-of-the-art mobile clinic. Centered in Hazard, KY (Perry County) the RMCM cares for underserved children in their own neighborhoods and schools. The RMCM is designed specifically for the purpose of providing quality pediatric dental care and education and includes two patient examinations and professional staff as well as volunteer support.

2013 Impact Total number of pediatric patients: 4,320 Number of patients diagnosed as “urgent” (pain): 14%

The mission of the RMHC Charitable Grant Making Program Funded by McDonald's of Southeastern and Central KY is to promote programs to directly improve the health and well-being of children. The funding for this program comes directly from McDonald's of Southeastern and Central KY. Applications will only be accepted from organizations that directly benefit individuals in the 35 counties served by McDonald's of Southeastern and Central KY.

Category

Population Served, ,

Program Comments

CEO Comments

As with all non-profit organizations, our top concern remains the need to secure ongoing revenue streams (and cultivate new resources of funding) to ensure that RMHC continues to meet the growing needs for our services. Some strategies to achieve that goal are to increase visibility and awareness of our programs throughout the Fayette County community and throughout Eastern and Central Kentucky (one result has been the creation of a statewide "Vehicle Donation - Cars for Kids" program to benefit Lexington and Louisville RMHC chapters.) Additionally, collaborative fundraising efforts and projects in partnership with the Kentucky Children's Hospital are currently being identified.

Our second concern is that our volunteer and donor base is maturing, so new stakeholders must be recruited to advance the charity. Recently, a "Young Professionals" membership group (called the Bluegrass Red Shoe Society) was formed to help secure future support for the charity's efforts in the future. Future Red Shoe projects include membership social events, group volunteer activities (like preparing meals for the guests at the House), and fundraising events (5k run.)

A third top concern identified at our last RMHC Board planning retreat was that the Ronald McDonald House facility has reached a challenging stage in that it needs significant repairs and improvements. Future plans include addressing an obsolete "lift station" system and renovation of the front entrance to improve water flow from the roof as well as increase visibility/ security for visitors, guests, staff and volunteers.

Plans & Policies

Organization has a Fundraising Plan?Yes

Organization has a Strategic Plan?Yes

Years Strategic Plan Considers2

Date Strategic Plan AdoptedNov 2012

Management Succession Plan?Yes

Organization Policy and ProceduresYes

Nondiscrimination PolicyYes

Whistleblower PolicyYes

Document Destruction PolicyYes

Collaborations

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program operates in collaboration with the University of Kentucky College of Medicine & College of Dentistry.